It’s a symphony in carbon fiber and quite expensive too
Ducati has made a specialty of limited-edition motorcycles in the past couple of decades, from thinly-disguised MotoGP racers-for-the-road to this, the Superleggera (super light) V4 version of the Panigale V4. Only 500 were built and, if you were lucky enough to get on the list for one, there was then the small problem of coming up with $100,000+ to pay for it! So, what do you get for your money?
Ducati claims that the Superleggera V4 is “the world’s only street-legal motorcycle with the entire load-bearing structure of the chassis (frame, swing arm and wheels) made from composite material.” By ‘composite’, read carbon fiber, which cuts a claimed 33 pounds from the chassis, giving an all-in weight of 335 pounds: that’s lighter than a Yamaha MT-03, yet the Ducati has more than five times the power!
In case this extensive use of carbon fiber for the chassis and swing arm makes you nervous, all chassis elements undergo a complex analysis of the structural integrity via three highly advanced non-destructive methods: Active Transient Thermography, Ultrasonic Phased Array, and Computed Axial Tomography. These are different words for ultimate quality control and ensuring the integrity of each structural component through each layer of carbon fiber to prevent any risk of de-lamination caused by imperfect construction techniques.
The wheels are made by acknowledged carbon wheel experts BST.
It’s not just the chassis and wheels that have been on a drastic diet. The engine contains titanium connecting rods, magnesium covers, and aluminum bolts everywhere. The exhaust system, by Akrapovic, is also 100-percent titanium and the bike comes with a second, even lighter, race-only titanium Akrapovic system. Now you might start to understand where the $100,000+ price tag comes from!
Even the rear shock has a titanium spring, while the front fork bottoms have been machined to shave off a few ounces.
While there may be a few Superleggera V4s that will see any track time, it is likely that most will be salted away in collectors’ garages. On the off-chance, however, that any owners possess the ability (and financial security) to risk their investment by heading to their local track, the chassis dimensions are slightly different.
The swingarm is not only lighter but also 11mm longer to bias the weight distribution to the front for more neutral turn-in to corners. The wheelbase is now 58.3 inches although the steering geometry is the same, with a 24.5° rake and 3.9 inches trail. Ducati says the wheelbase change results in “unparalleled deceleration power, faster leaning down into corners and sharper lines riding out of corners.”
So, not only is the chassis made from carbon fiber, but also the fairing and the ‘wings’. Ducati claims that the aerodynamic efficiency of the Superleggera V4 ‘matches and exceeds that of current MotoGP bikes.’
At 168mph, the wings create 110 pounds of downforce, which is 44 pounds more than on the Panigale V4 and V4R. The benefits of this downforce are better acceleration as the downforce prevents the front wheel from lifting when accelerating out of a corner, thus preventing the anti-wheelie software from kicking in, and also improved stability under braking, not to mention better front-end grip in fast corners.
Only Brembo brakes are good enough for the Superleggera V4 and it gets the latest Stylema R calipers. The front brake lever is adjustable by a remote knob on the left handlebar, just like MotoGP and WSBK race bikes.
While the ‘standard’ Panigale V4 has an engine of 1103cc, the Superleggera V4 has an engine of ‘only’ 998cc, the same as the homologation-only V4R.
If that sounds disappointing, then don’t worry. The whole engine is six pounds lighter than the 1103cc engine and produces 221 horsepower. With the ‘Race Kit’ and Akrapovic titanium exhaust fitted, that figure is bumped up to 231 horsepower.
The Race Kit also gives access to a RaceGP display on the TFT dash, similar to the display on the Ducati MotoGP bikes, and was designed with the help of -recently-retired Ducati MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso.
Well, of course, there had to be top-shelf electronics. There are five customizable riding modes, and a full TFT five-inch instrumentation screen, with three displays: Road, Track, and Race GP. The latest-generation electronics package with a six-axis inertial platform delivers ABS Cornering EVO: Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO 2; Ducati Slide Control (DSC); Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO; Ducati Power Launch (DPL); Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS) EVO 2; Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO; plus lap timer, data analyzer, and Ducati Multimedia, although why you would want anything interfering with your riding pleasure, such as a phone call or music) is beyond us!
According to those who have been lucky enough to ride one in anger at the track, the Superleggera V4 sets new standards of handling.
Writing in Motorcycle News (MCN), Adam Child and Michael Neeves said: “The ease and efficiency of the way the Superleggera slows, turns and rolls into corners, and changes direction between them is a whole new level. Brake late, accelerate early, miss your apex or mess up a line – and the Superleggera is there to pick up the pieces. Mid-corner there is simply endless grip and feedback.”
With all that power, should you use it all at the track, make sure you take your own personal fuel tanker as you’re not going to get good gas mileage if you have a heavy right hand.
Similarly, maybe take your own tire fitter along with all his tools as a rear tire isn’t going to last long, either!
The lucky 500 customers (you had to be invited to buy one and that only happened if you had previously bought a previous generation Superleggera or Desmosedici) didn’t just get the motorcycle but were offered a few other juicy extras.
The least of these was a Dainese Superleggera V4 leather race suit, complete with the D-Air airbag system and a carbon fiber Arai helmet.
Of more interest, perhaps, was the opportunity to test ride the then-current Panigale V4R World Superbike racer. If there was still money burning a hole in your pocket, an extra $22,000 would buy you the opportunity to test the 2020 Ducati GP20 MotoGP bike with lots of Ducati technicians present keeping their fingers crossed that you didn’t crash the hell out of their baby!
When announced, the Ducati Superleggera V4 cost in excess of $100,000
In ‘standard’ trim, the engine produces a claimed 221 horsepower. With the race ECU and exhaust fitted, it produces 231 horsepower.
500 were built and all sold out in a few hours.
Very fast! No independent figures are available but expect 200mph to be dispatched with ease.
When announced, the Ducati Superleggera V4 cost in excess of $100,000
In ‘standard’ trim, the engine produces a claimed 221 horsepower. With the race ECU and exhaust fitted, it produces 231 horsepower.
500 were built and all sold out in a few hours.
Very fast! No independent figures are available but expect 200mph to be dispatched with ease.
Harry has been writing and talking about motorcycles for 15 years, although he's been riding them for 45 years! After a long career in music, he turned his hand to writing and television work, concentrating on his passion for all things petrol-powered. Harry has written for all major publications in South Africa, both print and digital and produced and presented his own TV show called, imaginatively, The Bike Show, for seven years. He held the position of editor of South Africa's largest circulation motorcycling magazine before devoting his time to freelance writing on motoring and motorcycling. Born and raised in England, he has lived in South Africa with his family since 2002. Harry has owned examples of Triumph, Norton, BSA, MV Agusta, Honda, BMW, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Kawasaki and Moto Morini motorcycles. He regrets selling all of them.